Guangzhou Library – The City’s Grand “Book Mountain”

Rising gracefully beside Huacheng Square in Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou Library’s striking twin-tower design resembles an open book, embodying the concept of “Beautiful Books.” Conceived by Nikken Sekkei, the architecture forms a unique ‘之’-shaped silhouette—layers of angled glass and cascading terraces that echo the overlap of culture and history, while nodding to traditional Lingnan arcade aesthetics . Step inside to discover a soaring atrium that connects public spaces from the ground floor up through multiple levels. The central “Book Mountain” invites you to wander terraced reading areas equipped with 4,500 seats, 686 public computers, and panoramic views of Canton Tower. Specialized zones—children, media, reference, study rooms, and more—ensure a tailor-made experience for every reader . More than just books, the library is a bustling cultural hub: you can borrow physical or digital resources, attend exhibitions and lectures, enjoy art appreciation, and explore multilingual media—all free of charge. Innovative services like RFID self-checkout, automated sorting, and city-wide interlibrary borrowing empower visitors with convenience and choice . Open daily except Wednesdays (9 am–9 pm), and just a short walk from Zhujiang New Town Metro or APM Line, this institution draws an average of 27,000 daily visitors, loaning over 37,000 items per day. Its collection of over 11 million volumes cements Guangzhou Library as one of the world’s largest city libraries and a vital “living room” for community engagement, lifelong learning, and cultural connection . #gzonbudget